Medha Patkar in preventive custody

Kolkata, Jan 10 (UNI) Police took into 'preventive custody' social activist Medha Patkar as she attempted to visit Singur today.

Police contingent led by superintendent of Police, North 24 Parganas, whisked away Ms Patkar and three of her associates as they moved out of the house in the Saltlake area on the city's eastern fringe in a bid to go to Howrah station on way to Singur.

''Ms Patkar and her associates are taken into preventive custody,'' Inspector General of Police Raj Kanojia said confirming the news.

Sources close to the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader, who was putting up in a house, had been asked by police not to go to Singur even before she stepped out.

She had announced here yesterday regarding her programme for a visit to Singur in Hoogly district.

'' Police told Ms Patkar in the morning that she was free to go anywhere but will be arrested if she visited Singur,'' the sources said.

They also said police had taken her to Saltlake Yuva Awas.

Ms Patkar was leading a five-member team to go to Singur, where prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr PC were still inforced.

She had been detained and arrested twice last month when she tried to visit Singur, a scene of recent turmoil over the government's move to take over the agriculture farm land for proposed Tata Motors' small car project.

UNI